Top Texas Online Schools for 2015

We evaluated 488 colleges to identify, interview, and assess the best online colleges in Texas. In our view, West Texas A&M University is the best of the bunch, featuring an affordable tuition rate ($245.71 per credit hour) and strong core services due to their affiliation with Texas A&M. The benefits of West Texas A&M University are even better if you are a military veteran, with veteran-specific scholarships, tuition assistance, and career services.

We came to this conclusion after whittling down the initial, to 26 different schools that offer at least four 100% fully online programs. From there, we interviewed them by phone and email, scoured the internet for data, and put them through the Edudemic College Methodology.

Throughout the state, we uncovered some impressive schools. While West Texas A&M consistently scored the highest, they only offer six Bachelor’s programs. What happens when you want to study something off the menu?

In Texas, you’re in luck. Our top four finishers all scored within two points (out of 100) from one another. For value, Angelo State University (#2) offers undergraduate programs at $156.68 per credit hour, though the online degree selection is limited to programs in Border and Homeland Security and Intelligence, Security Studies, and Analysis. For breadth of program selection, Dallas Baptist University (#3) offers 16 different Bachelor’s programs. For reputation, the University of Houston (#4) is a Tier 1 research university with an in-state tuition discount. We also liked Texas Tech University’s (#8) array of Wind Energy and Nuclear Engineering online degrees.

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Key Takeaways

The #1 online college in Texas is West Texas A&M University. They have strong core services, due to their affiliation with Texas A&M, and they provided extremely thorough responses to our questions at every turn. With an average tuition rate of $245.71 per credit hour, they are also one of the most affordable schools in the state.

Here’s a breakdown of the top online programs in Texas:

Best Business / Accounting Degree: West Texas A&M University (#1), Dallas Baptist University (#3)

Best MBA: Dallas Baptist University (#3)

Best Art: West Texas A&M University (General Studies) (#1)

Best Computer Science: LeTourneau University (#9)

Best Counseling: University of the Incarnate Word (Human Resources) (#6)

Best Criminal Justice: West Texas A&M University (#1), Dallas Baptist University (#3)

Best Engineering: Texas Tech University (#8)

Best English / Humanities: University of the Incarnate Word (#6)

Best Healthcare:Dallas Baptist University (#3), University of the Incarnate Word (#6)

Best Nursing / RN to BSN: West Texas A&M University (#1)

Best Political Science: (Not available online in this state)

Best Psychology: Dallas Baptist University (#3), University of Houston (#4)

Best Teaching / Education: LeTourneau University (#9)

Best Public Health: LeTourneau University (#9)

Private doesn’t mean better. Seven of our top ten Texas colleges are public schools, including our top two. Public schools often provide in-state tuition discounts, and because they tend to have more students, they also provide more services. We find them achieving higher financial aid and career services skills, and providing additional programs to transfer students, returning students, or veterans.

Some Texas colleges are worth the higher tuition price. Dallas Baptist University, at $781 per credit hour, is one of the most expensive schools in the state. Yet it finished #3 in our Texas rankings because they offer 16 different Bachelor’s programs, have consistently strong support services, clear and useful responses to our questions, and a strong reputation among their peers.

The top Texas colleges outperform the big for-profits. It’s easy to find the schools that advertise on billboards and Google ads. But they’re usually not going to offer you the same education quality as our top performers. There are 26 different in-state schools to choose from in Texas. And as the University of Phoenix starts to suffer from criticism of low graduation rates (5-10% on average) and poor career prospects, you can be sure that public schools like West Texas A&M University (with their 40% graduation rate) will be a safer bet.

College Highlights

#1: West Texas A&M University

Average In-State Tuition: $245.71 per credit hour (lower than average for state)

What we really liked:
West Texas A&M University offers a variety of degrees at an affordable price point. Backed by the resources of the Texas A&M system, they have an impressive infrastructure of career services support and financial aid counseling. Each department provided thorough responses to our questions, leading us to think that when it comes to student service, West Texas A&M University is at the top of their game.

What we didn’t like:
West Texas A&M University has an average graduation rate (40%) and an average retention rate (62%) within the state. Other large programs, such as Texas Tech University, fare better with a 59% graduation rate and an 80% retention rate. But the state average from our sample is 41%, putting West Texas A&M University right in line with expectations. This kept their performance score relatively flat. Additionally, for a school this large, they should offer more flexible payment plans. However, despite these penalties, West Texas A&M squeaked their way to the top of the list by a hair.

5/5 – Performance Score

With a better-than-average graduation rate, a very strong retention rate, a good portfolio of online programs, and small bonuses for ranking in US News and Money 2014, West Texas A&M University is an all-around winner when it comes to academic performance.

Graduation Rate: 40% (average for state)

Retention Rate: 62% (average for state)

Placement on US News Online Rankings:

Placement on Money 2014 List: -

Placement on Washington Monthly’s Top Colleges: -

Total Bachelor’s / Master’s Offerings: 14 (average for state)

West Texas A&M University has average performance indicators across the board. While we expect the graduation and retention rates to remain flat (since this is a large, public university), we do expect the number of online programs to keep growing.

5/5 – Response Score

West Texas A&M University’s responses were useful and informative. For example, their career services department was particularly helpful, responding to all of our questions with relevant details:

WTAMU is committed to helping our graduates full-time employment. This processes begins with our internship initiatives to help students get experience prior to graduation. There is over an 80% full-time job offer rate for our students who intern. We have many other resources to assist our graduates.

- West Texas A&M University Career Services Department

This friendly approach corroborated our research online and through follow up phone calls, where we were able to talk to qualified professionals in financial aid and career services in under five minutes. Just based on the university’s responses, however, we believe that they are strongly committed to student service.

4.17/5 – Transparency Score

West Texas A&M University has several 100% online programs, but also several hybrid programs. As their selection continues to grow, it is a little confusing to understand the specific program requirements for each major.

5/5 – Career Services Score

Clearly, West Texas A&M is a leader in providing cutting-edge, online tools for distance learning students. They provide a regular menu of services, including resume and interviewing workshops, career fairs, and career counseling. But what sets them apart is a commitment to technology:

Service for online students include most all services we offer for traditional brick and mortar students. We can still assist with internships, professional development skills (resume development, interview skill development, interviews with employers). Our use of technology takes down most barriers that online students might face at other colleges.

- West Texas A&M University Career Services Department

Their online portal, BuffJobs, also provides a direct link between alumni and job seekers. The career services department also uses a LinkedIn group to keep in touch. In fact, Texas A&M University holds LinkedIn in such high esteem that they provide training for students on how to use the social network.
All in all, the department’s commitment to student service — whether it’s traditional or online — is very clear:

We are unique in that we are high touch for the students that need our one-one one attention and we are very technology driven in delivering our services electronically to our stakeholders. Our “claim to fame” for both our students, alumni and employers is that we are invested in meeting the needs of our stakeholders in whatever form that might takes the shape. Just tell us what you need and how you need it delivered and we do our best to meet the request.

- West Texas A&M University Career Services Department

4/5 – Financial Aid Score

West Texas A&M University provides all of the financial aid resources you’d expect from a large school, along with unique specialty programs. Their Parent Plus package allows students to borrow funds in their parents’ names in order to fund their education.

Additionally, West Texas A&M University was named one of the top-military friendly universities by Military Advanced Education and GI Jobs. They offer a variety of benefits for veterans, including scholarships, tuition assistance, and waivers for dependents. In fact, to service the number of veterans at West Texas A&M University, there is a Department of Veterans Services at the school.

#2: Angelo State University

Average In-State Tuition: $156.68 per credit hour (much lower than average for state)

What we really liked:
In our rankings, Angelo State University finished a close second. With strong response, career services, and financial aid scores, Angelo State makes a strong case for prioritizing student service. However, their degree program offerings are niche: they offer Bachelor’s degrees in subjects like Border and Homeland Security, and Intelligence, Security Studies, and Analysis. If you are considering a career in Federal law enforcement, we recommend you investigate this program further.

What we didn’t like:
Angelo State’s graduation rate, retention rate, and breadth of programs offered make their performance score below average. This should be seen in the context of a school offering highly specific programs. Still, we would prefer to see better indicators at the macro level.

2.67/5 – Performance Score

Graduation Rate: 30% (lower than average for state)

Retention Rate: 59% (lower than average for state)

Placement on US News Online Rankings: –

Placement on Money 2014 List: –

Placement on Washington Monthly’s Top Colleges: –

Total Bachelor’s / Master’s Offerings: 17 (higher than average for state)

Of all the factors we took into account in our methodology, Graduation Rate and Retention Rate are Angelo State’s biggest weaknesses. Their rates are below the state average. But with low in-state tuition rates and military friendly programs, Angelo State removes many of the traditional barriers to entry.

5/5 – Response Score

Angelo State University provided thorough responses to our questions at every turn. For example, when we asked their financial aid department about their staff and resources, they provided this helpful response:

We have dedicated financial aid counselors for students. We do not assign a class of students to a particular counselor. We do however assign specific duties to our counselor’s, for example we have a primary academic progress counselor, another who looks at special circumstances. We all may pitch in when the need arises. We currently have two counselor’s, two associate directors, and myself as director who all work to verify and award student aid. In addition we have two other support staff members plus student employees.

- Angelo State University Financial Aid

This kind of response shows that there is a person at the other end who understands not only the importance of having a good staff, but also the importance of communicating that fact to prospective students.

4.17/5 – Transparency Score

Angelo State University provides a lot of good information directly on their website. We wish they would also provide faculty names and biographies for all of the online programs, though.

4.75/5 – Career Service Score

Although Angelo State University only has two full time staff members, the representative sent us a link to their individual biographies. That was our first indication that this school cares about transparency.

When we asked them about the differences between traditional and online students, their response indicated that they really understand the needs of online students:

I cannot think of any services we offer online students that we don’t offer our campus students. And, most of the services we offer campus students are available to online students – although the method of delivery is usually different. I have found that we can often accomplish quite a bit via email and/or telephone.

With regard to the services we offer to assist students in finding internships and jobs, we have several services and/or resources. We have a part-time job website and we will host a Part-Time Job Fair on September 3rd. We will host an Internship & Volunteerism Fair on September 24. And, we are hosting the Professional Internship & Job Fair on October 22nd. Professional internships and full-time degree-required jobs are posted on Jobs4Rams – which you can access from our website. In addition to internships identification opportunities listed above, through our website you can access internship.com as well as a list of (primarily national) opportunities. For students who need to keep the internship local, sometimes we are able to make a connection for them with an employer. And, of course, we always encourage students to touch base with their instructors – who often also have connections within the community.

- Angelo State University Career Services

We were impressed with all of the attributes of their career services department. It would be great to see further collaboration with the alumni network, but given this department’s variety of strengths, it only needs minor improvements.

4.5/5 – Financial Aid Score

Across all of our financial aid survey questions, Angelo State University scored very high. They offer a variety of university, departmental, organizational, research, and military scholarships — including multiple “full ride” options.

Currently over 70% of our students receive federal or state aid of some type. There will also be students who do not apply for federal aid but receive scholarship assistance too.

- Angelo State University Financial Aid

The department is almost perfect. The one area for improvement? A more flexible monthly payment program that spans the entire academic year.

#3: Dallas Baptist University

Average In-State Tuition: $781.20 per credit hour (much higher than average for state)

What we really liked:
Dallas Baptist University had consistently strong scores across all of the categories, but it really shined in the performance score. All of their departments were very responsive to our questions, and we found them welcoming and friendly. Their career services department will even send you an email when a prospective employer is visiting campus. We really like that personal touch.

What we didn’t like:
At $781.20 per credit hour, Dallas Baptist University is one of the most expensive schools on this list. We would also like to see more breadth of programs offered at the undergraduate level.

4.87/5 – Performance Score

Graduation Rate: 55% (higher than average for state)

Retention Rate: 71% (higher than average for state)

Placement on US News Online Rankings: 153

Placement on Money 2014 List: –

Placement on Washington Monthly’s Top Colleges: –

Total Bachelor’s / Master’s Offerings: 47 (higher than average for state)

Dallas Baptist University has higher than average graduation and retention rates. They also have a broad offering of graduate programs and a reputation boost from placement on the US News Online Rankings. Combined, this gives Dallas Baptist a very strong performance score.

4/5 – Response Score

Like the other top finishers in Texas, Dallas Baptist was very responsive to our questions. Their responses were helpful, but not overly specific. For example, their career services department provides just enough detail to indicate how they are committed to student service:

We participate in a unique event called The Etiquette Training in Formal Dinning Protocol and Dressing for Success. This is an event where we demonstrate with our current students and students preparing to graduate the proper way to eat in a professional setting/interview and how to dress. It takes place each semester.

We are also constantly in touch with you through emails as far as new developments about careers and employers who will visit our campus.

- Dallas Baptist University Career Services Department

In the end, there were also a few instances where we were simply directed to a website, instead of receiving a custom response to our questions. This hindered the response score slightly.

4.17/5 – Transparency Score

Dallas Baptist University’s website is easy to navigate and understand. However, they could improve by providing faculty names and biographies.

4.25/5 – Career Services Score

When it comes to career services, Dallas Baptist University makes no distinctions between traditional and online students. Their resources are available to both.

Career Services provides career counseling, resume writing, interviewing techniques, and various tips on how to conduct a successful job search. Information about job opportunities and upcoming career fairs is also available. For career counseling, you are asked to make an appointment. Career Services has implemented an online employment database called CareerBridge. Registering through CareerBridge will give students access to available open part-time employment on campus, as well as full-time and part-time off-campus employment plus internships. Students will need their webadvisor number in order to register. Our services are available to campus students as well as online students.

- Dallas Baptist University Career Services

Additionally, the department maintains an active relationship with alums:

We have relationships with many corporations where DBU alumni are employed. We reach out to them on a regular basis in reference to hiring our students and graduates.

- Dallas Baptist University Career Services

It would be helpful if the department could provide placement numbers, or stories about successful job and internship placements through this informal alumni network.

3.75/5 – Financial Aid Score

Tuition is the biggest problem in Dallas Baptist University’s financial aid score. At $781.20 per credit hour (on average), it is one of the most expensive schools in the state. They do provide a variety of unique scholarships, offer a monthly payment plan, and have a dedicated staff of professionals, but it’s not enough to make up for the initial price tag.

#4: University of Houston

Average In-State Tuition: $322.50 per credit hour (average for state)

Average Out-of-State Tuition: $866.40 per credit hour

Accreditation Status: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission

What we really liked:
The University of Houston has a strong reputation with their online programs, placing high on the Money 2014 and Washington Monthly college rankings. As a large, public university, it also has strong financial aid and career services departments. Their graduation rate and retention rate are above average, suggesting that UH provides a good quality education.

What we didn’t like:
The University of Houston’s responses to our questions were curt, directing us back to their website whenever possible. It’s exactly the kind of response we’d expect from a huge school.

4.40/5 – Performance Score

Graduation Rate: 48% (higher than average for state)

Retention Rate: 83% (higher than average for state)

Placement on US News Online Rankings: –

Placement on Money 2014 List: 68

Placement on Washington Monthly’s Top Colleges: 114

Total Bachelor’s / Master’s Offerings: 11 (average for state)

The University of Houston has higher than average graduation rate and retention rate, and their placement on several national rankings suggest a strong reputation among peers. The breadth of UH’s online degree programs is just average, though. We would like to see more undergraduate programs added to the roster.

3/5 – Response Score

The University of Houston responded to our questions, but in many cases, it felt as if they were checking us off a list. When we asked if the courses have a set class time, they responded:

Some are, and some aren’t. Each professor handles their classes differently.</>

- University of Houston Response #1

So while they gave us a bit of information about how online classes function, it is not very informative. Across the board, these short responses helped fulfill the obligation to respond, but we did not find them very helpful.

4.17/5 – Transparency Score

The University of Houston’s website is well organized. But for the online programs, it lacks faculty names and biographies.

4.5/5 – Career Services Score

In addition to a large, experienced staff, the University of Houston’s career services department boasts several programs for online students, including a virtual job board and interview preparation. Our favorite feature of the department? Multiple staff members dedicated to alumni relations.

Alumni have one semester after graduation to use career services for free. After that semester, continued career services are priced @ $50 a semester. Workshops and fairs are not online, but meeting with a counselor over the phone is an option. There are about 8 counselors available.

- University of Houston Career Services

5/5 – Financial Aid Score

The University of Houston has a very helpful financial aid department, with several staff members available by phone and by online chat:

We have 12 Financial Aid Advisors that are here to assist with your questions and we also have 6 advising staff working the phones and 4 staff that work our on-line chat service.

- University of Houston Financial Aid

Even though it sounds like common sense, very few of the schools we surveyed offered online chat services. Communication channels like this are crucial for online students, who may not have the ability to visit the office in person.

We were also impressed with the University of Houston’s payment plan options:

We have two separate payment plans. Either you can pay the first 25%, then another 25% for every other payment, or you can utilize our 90 day payment plan. There is no difference in the financial aid process for online students.

- University of Houston Financial Aid

As a result, the University of Houston gets a perfect score on our financial aid rankings.

#5: Sam Houston State University

Average In-State Tuition: $406.00 per credit hour (higher than average for state)

What we really liked:Sam Houston State University has higher than average graduation and retention rates. It also placed on all three of the ranking systems we measured, indicated a strong reputation among peers. We also appreciated the thorough responses that we received from their career services department.

What we didn’t like:With high tuition rates and limited payment plans, Sam Houston State University is one of the most expensive and inflexible schools on the list. And aside from career services, their responses to our questions were limited at best. We have some concerns about the responsiveness of school administrators to online students.

4.93/5 – Performance Score

Graduation Rate: 51% (higher than average)

Retention Rate: 75% (higher than average)

Placement on US News Online Rankings: 41

Placement on Money 2014 List: 352

Placement on Washington Monthly’s Top Colleges: 173

Total Bachelor’s / Master’s Offerings: 29 (higher than average)

Sam Houston State University’s near-perfect performance score is due to a significant reputation bonus from placement on three other ranking systems. However, their graduation rate, retention rate, and total online programs are all well above average. Ultimately, Sam Houston State provides a high-quality education.

3/5 – Response Score

For online students, specifically, a high-quality education might not be enough. With the exception of the career services department, experts at Sam Houston State were hard to come by. We had to pick up the phone and talk to an administrator in order to answer basic questions about the program structure.

However, the quality of the career services responses mean that there are significant resources available to help a student during and after their college career. In particular, we appreciated their data-driven responses:

Through benchmarking best practices we learn of through our regional and national professional organizations, we pride ourselves as being in the forefront in terms of programs and services offered and staffing size for a university our size. For example: Nationwide Career Centers in the Carnegie Doctoral Research Category as is SHSU, offer an average of 5 job fairs and we offer 9. Our placement rate as recently reported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s 2014 Higher Education Almanac is 81% as compared to the statewide average of 78%.

– Sam Houston State University Career Services

If our general and financial aid inquiries were handled with this level of detail, Sam Houston State would have a much higher response score.

4.17/5 – Transparency Score

Like most schools with strong traditional programs, Sam Houston State University provides a lot of information on their website. However, they fail to specify which faculty teach online classes.

4.17/5 – Career Services Score

As we noted previously, Sam Houston State University’s career services department is top notch. They’re the only school in Texas to mention the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment, which is frequently used in the workforce. And they have a variety of tools catering to online students:

We offer an online job/internship posting program we call “JOBS for KATS”, nine different job fairs each year where hundreds of employers meet with students pursuing internship and job opportunities, and on-campus interviews in the Career Center for professional internships and jobs. Our website also features links to reputable organizations offering internship opportunities.

All of our services are available to online students but most advantageous to our distance/online learners would be our online career assessments (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory), career counseling (telephone, email, Skype), the availability of Skype interviews with employers interviewing in Career Services, online resume and cover-letter information and templates, online mock interviews through Interviewstream, and as mentioned, online JOBS for KATS.

- Sam Houston State University Career Services

The only area for improvement is a minor one: we would like to see better integration between career services and alumni relations.

3.5/5 – Financial Aid Score

Sam Houston State University is one of the more expensive schools in Texas, and they don’t offer an annual, monthly payment plan. Those factors have an impact on the financial aid score. However, SHSU also has a dedicated staff of financial aid counselor’s, and automatic scholarships for transfer students in good standing.

Honorable Mention (Four Year Programs)

Although they only have three fully online Bachelor’s degrees, the University of North Texas has a strong reputation and the resources of a large, public institution. They offer variations on a Bachelor’s in Applied Arts and Sciences, including a degree in Applied Technology and Performance Improvement. Take note, future consultants!

Honorable Mention (Two Year Programs)

While our rankings concentrate on four year Bachelor’s programs, there are a few schools that offer two year Associate’s degrees in Texas. We thought South Texas College deserved a special mention here. South Texas College has an entire “virtual campus” for online students. This 31,000 student community college has a sophisticated technology infrastructure, and boasts 16 different Associate’s programs. With degree tracks like Anthropology, Sociology, and Computer Information Systems, South Texas College offers one of the most diverse selections of online programs in the state.

Schools That Didn’t Make Our Cut

You’ll notice that The University of Texas at Austin , as well as several other campuses of the University of Texas system are missing from our rankings. These universities offer online classes, but they do not offer enough 100% fully online Bachelor’s programs to make the cut.

Texas Job Outlook

The average unemployment rate in Texas was at 6.4% in April 2013, below the national average. The biggest employers in the state are in the trade, transportation, and utility industries, responsible for 2,224,500 people employed. The next largest employers are the government and health and education services, which employ 1,808,600 and 1,495,300 people respectively. Careers with the most job openings in Texas are within the education sector. The unemployment rate in Texas has been decreasing steadily since November 2013, and as of April 2014 was at 5.2%.

Popular Careers and Educational Requirements in Texas

Elementary School Teacher
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Education
About the Job: Elementary school teachers help students build a foundational knowledge about basic subjects like reading and writing. As an elementary school teacher, it will be your job to make sure that all your students learn these basic subjects so they can perform well in future classes. You will make lesson plans appropriate for your class’s skill level and challenge them with stimulating and thought provoking coursework. You will also meet with parents and other faculty members as necessary to report about student progress or problem spots. There are more than 10 major teachers’ unions in Texas to help teachers maintain job security and reasonable wages.

Secondary School Teacher
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Education
About the Job: Secondary school teachers instruct students who have advanced beyond the primary school level in core subjects like mathematics and English. Secondary school teachers expand on a student’s basic understanding of subjects like reading and writing by delivering coursework that tests and builds on their knowledge. As a secondary school teacher, you will also prepare students for standardized and achievement testing.

Middle School Teacher
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Education
About the Job: Middle school teachers instruct students at the grade levels right before high school in more advanced classes like social sciences, reading comprehension, and English grammar. As a middle school teacher, you will work to devise lesson plans that adequately prepare your students for high school while simultaneously preparing them for entrance exams and standardized tests. You will assign your students with projects and reports that will test their knowledge in various subjects and grade them according to their performance.

Accountant
Education: Bachelor of Science in Accounting
About the Job: Accountants are responsible for calculating figures, analyzing sums, and forecasting costs related to a client’s finances. As an accountant you will draw from complex math, accounting software, and traditional bookkeeping to make sure that a client’s finances are in order. You will collaborate with other finance personnel such as bankers, investors, and financial managers to make sure that your data aligns with your client’s finances. You may also consult with individuals about financial issues such as tax problems, loan repayments, and retirement plans.

Computer Systems Analyst
Education: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a related discipline
About the Job: Computer systems analysts assess data processing issues and design solutions to fix them using computer software and complex programming languages. As computer systems analyst, you will work on behalf of a client to repair and maintain computer systems according to their needs. Your duties will include reprogramming software, replacing old software with newer versions, procuring and installing hardware, and maintaining computer networks. You will also collaborate with other tech personnel about computer systems issues as they arise. Computer systems analysts reported median wages of approximately $80,000 in 2013.

Online College Admission Requirements in Texas

Admission requirements for online colleges in Texas vary from program to program. Here are some of the requirements from The University of Texas to illustrate what can be expected from admission departments:

High school transcripts proving your satisfactory GPA and completion of core high school courses

Scores from standardized tests such as the SAT or the ACT

Completion of an application form

Attached statement of purpose/personal essays

Letters of recommendation from former managers, teachers, or community leaders

The admission requirements for other online universities in Texas may be different and will be subject to change depending on your academic standing. If you are transferring from another college, many of the standard admission criteria may not apply to you. Other admission requirements may apply if you are an adult student or if you have a GPA/test scores below the minimum requirement for a school. Be sure to check with the admission department before submitting any paperwork.

Accreditation in Texas

School accreditation in Texas is awarded mainly by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). SACS is one of six regional institutional accrediting agencies charged with awarding accreditation to schools in the U.S. Furthermore, SACS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Texas Distance Learning Resources

ApplyTexas: Complete admissions information for all the public universities in Texas, including a common admission application that you can fill out.

College for All Texans: An organization charged with getting as many potential students enrolled in Texas colleges as possible. Check out this resource for information regarding college access and enrollment figures in the state.

Every Chance Every Texan, Financial Aid: A comprehensive list of financial aid programs supported by the Texas government, including scholarships and grants that prospective students may qualify for.